S2 E6 'the fishes' was nearly unbearable, the cameo actors were brilliant and shed any previous character baggage to bring us excellent fresh performances. The episode cuts are necessary but in many instances this is a flowing narrative that's rich enough for cinema but impossible to shave down. With not a frame out of place and no tripped up weak writing I can't imagine this being any better. I thought season one was amazing, this season takes it to a whole other level. This series feels like a passion project with everyone on board, thanks so much to all involved for creating this. Brilliant.
Reviews
37 Reviews
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
(2013–2018)
There are no words that would do this justice other than you're missed.
8 May 2023
I loved his show from its beginnings. His turn of phrase and ruthless observation perfectly suited mine and many others needs. I loved it. I introduced my ten year old son to the series and we watched it religiously. Often inspiring our own experimentations in the kitchen. My son now graduated from university is willing to try new cultures foods without trepidation. He cares about what he eats and seems to have picked up on the beauty of simpler and often cheaper ingredients that Tony often praised. I came to IMDB today to see where any of Tony's shows are streaming, to reconnect with his empathetic and curious genius for another round.
Memory
(I) (2022)
Better than anticipated, well done!
11 October 2022
It's an all too common trend where aging action heroes take on roles that become stretches from reality with scripts that lack tight writing. There are a few trite bits of dialogue in this one but past that it turns out it is a pretty decent flick. Photography is good with an occasional brilliantly framed sequence, the pace is consistent, the less experienced actors do a decent enough job that they don't kill it. It has enough plot twists and conflict to keep you entertained while Liam, Guy and Monica Bellucci (yes, that Monica Bellucci who clearly demonstrates she deserves more time on our screens) keep it on the rails. Overall this was a decent watch. It's not terrible, and that's meant as a compliment. Not a theatre night out but a solid flick to watch at home. Bigger budget movies have done worse.
Bill Maher: #Adulting
(2022 TV Special)
Bill, this one sucks.
17 April 2022
Bill starts with, 'I see young people, in masks, alone, walking outdoors, I just want to punch them'. Bill chose a Floridian audience, an anti vax state with an audience including mask wearers in attendance to spout this crap. Even jabs an audience member about his own mask. I thought Bill was smarter than this. Bills anti science opinions have been peeking thru his veneer this season on Real Time and this #Adulting has him letting loose. I have watched him for years and enjoyed the varied opinions and personalities he shares with us. I am not going to debate the efficacy of mask wearing, by now if people don't get it, they never will. Time for Bill to take a balcony seat with the muppet show, he's old, opinionated and out of touch. The incessant pot smoking has caught up with him. Done with him.
Before I Go
(2021)
There are great movies for some that are lost on others...
10 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I almost didn't watch this based upon the score but Annabella Sciorra, Willie Garson and Robert Klein create winning characters so I gave it a watch. I am glad I did. Clearly an indie format this isn't RomCom Popcorn fluff. The movie is written well with only a couple theatre style lines poking thru otherwise authentic dialogue. It's shot nicely and clearly thought was put into the framing, colorization and editing. It does lull a little in the middle but it's otherwise on tempo. It's a life movie, along the tenor of A Marriage Story, it's Annabella's characters dealing with mid-late middle age. I liked it, l liked that it wasn't trite fluff. Annabella still holds the screen as does Klein and Willie Garson is Willie Garson and that's just perfect. Filled with subtle living in New York touches (plastic bag shoe or dressing down in public) this is a great little flick that ends on a high note. If you're a movie buff or a fan of the actors then give this solid indie flick a watch, you won't be disappointed.
Cry Macho
(2021)
Clint isn't 'old' when off camera, he plays old for this and probably shouldn't.
7 March 2022
Eastwood plays a 'washed up' rodeo star. It's not relevant to the plot really. It's a weak plot line that leaves Eastwoods character hunched over and slow, I think it would better if he didn't play up the sorry sod. Every bit of the plot line aches with predictable turns, the young actor isn't up to the task, his breathy slow paced off timed delivery feels amateur. Even though it's predictable it feels like it could be much better. Maybe without Eastwoods involvement expectations would be lowered and the movie wouldn't feel like a let down. Strange discombobulated flick.
Nice Lee Child cameo in last diner scene
9 February 2022
Well above average for a tv adaptation. Good fun, decent cgi, decent fight choreography and good plot. Often adaptations take what would make a great movie and stretch it across too many episodes. The resultant series episodes become light and lacking tempo, this is not the case. Every episode provided enough reasonable plot development that as a viewer you're never bored. A couple fight scenes were too over the top to be believable, a crowbar will always win over a forearms block and a crowbar to the skull is lights out and likely permanently for its recipient. Still, not farcical enough to ruin the entertainment. Lee Childs cameo is a delightful touch.
Wolf Like Me
(2022– )
What a treat!
17 January 2022
Simply refreshing! Without giving anything away it's tough to review. The last time I saw something anywhere close to this was years ago in a movie format. If you're up for a reasonably serious drama that has its moments of dark humor then this is the ticket. The series remains consistent with the lore, it's very well acted by all involved. If they do proceed with further seasons I worry it could easily become episodic and overworked. It would be great to watch more but only if the storyline can remain fresh and relevant. There are a couple subplots that leave the door open for more. This was a fun watch.
Riders of Justice
(2020)
There are a handful of actors whose presence in a film assures you will enjoy it...
11 January 2022
This is a very intriguing movie. Mads certainly drew me to watch it, especially after seeing him in Another Round. This has everything, its plot seed is a dreadfully awful incident that sets to intertwining disparate and fantastically written characters on a path to revenge and redemption. It's a dark comedy in sections but for the most part it struck me as a reminder that we are all imperfect and that we all have gifts worth celebrating. The movie has something for everyone. Maybe it caught me in the right mood, but I really enjoyed this film, every part of it. Well shot, well written (English subtitled as I prefer to hear original actors voices versus over dubbed) and brilliantly acted. Every actor was key to the film, Mads is surrounded by equally talented cast, there really isn't a weak link anywhere in the production. Brilliant.
Endangered Species
(2021)
Turned it off at rhino attack, grade school kids could have done a better job.
8 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I was ready for mediocrity. After they bust thru the park entrance I lost empathy and then ignoring trail signage it just became about moronic self entitled tourists. All of that previous stupidity was eclipsed by the farcical rhino attack scene where they fumble about in near Jerry Lewis vaudevillian style to get the van moving. Stupid. Turned it off.
The Dry
(2020)
Pretty hard to not give this a ten!
26 August 2021
This is very close to a perfect drama. It's consistently paced with decent plot twists. Well shot with outstanding supporting cast. It is shy of a ten simply because there are stunningly brilliant movies that need the room to score higher than this one. Bana is perfect for this role and he is surrounded by many supporting actors who each stood out with their own great performances. It feels like a slow burn but it's not, lots of plot development to keep pace.
The Vast of Night
(2019)
So much more than expected...
17 January 2021
Rarely are there writers with the relevant and natural tempo of an Alan Sorkin. From the very beginning dialogue is quick, interesting and continuous and it is married with a similarly fluid continuity of camera shots. Movies like Birdman come to mind, HG Wells War of the worlds, meets Pontypool, meets 8mm. Maybe it was 'lunchbox surprise' having expected little from a movie I had read nothing about. Don't let a glowing review raise your expectations. Go into this with a clean slate and enjoy the ride. One imagines the difficulty of scripting an ending to this story. Shot beautifully, well edited, great ominous soundtrack, great cast, all round fresh enjoyable flick. With the exceptions of an opening scene Sputnik style chandelier that might be a modern interpretive 'reproduction' and one of the long camera dollies through town where we pass a halogen 'white' lit veranda the set design is delightfully period, right down to well practiced switchboard and reel to reel tape movements clearly practiced by the actors. Nothing looks out of place. Can't really come up with anything to knock it down from a ten.
Night Hunter
(2018)
Worth the watch!
26 December 2019
Watched this on a whim and wasn't disappointed. Cahill is developing a less tried style that is working for us. He does a great job and he can clearly carry a leading dramatic role. Alexandria Daddario is also cutting some acting chops beyond the scream queen roles of her past. Her striking eyes are tough to work past but she too puts in a decent dramatic performance. Of course Stanley Tucci and Ben Kingsley are cinematic gold and the 'villain' is well played by Brendan Fletcher (who you've seen strong performances in The Revenant and Rampage). This movie is a good thriller with decent plot twists and suspenseful moments. It's a less polished than something like Seven or Bone Collector but manages to be quickly paced with car chases, stunts, suspenseful drama and good envogue cinematography.
The Goldfinch
(2019)
Having slept on it, it's a better movie
14 September 2019
I came away feeling undecided. I expected an indie film journey and something mimicking the trailer, both were mistaken. This is a dark movie, it took a sleep to appreciate its subtleties. The film is about the lead characters fall from a solid family foundation. It pulls him into a downward spiral that includes drug abuse, fraud and deception. The titles artwork carries another storyline deeply intertwined with the first but presents a premise that art stewardship lives beyond our own mortality and needs to be protected. Finn Wolfhard does a good job of his role, the leads ambassador to the dark side, the leads nemesis and his own unique play of a physically abused kid just trying to survive his dark reality whatever way he can. Personally I prefer a storyline where characters are more in control, you are presented this tale as a kid who loses mom and then behaves erratically to keep her alive by his stealing the artwork. Expecting that evolutionary tale it swings wide and leads the audience stumbling to piece it together. A web of happenstance meetings between characters moves things along but you can't help but feel the main is a passenger along for the ride. It's a brooding long story, it's a little contrived with coincidence but life can be that way. If you dig movies on the fringe, which clearly all involved including renowned DP Roger Deakins doing what he does best did by signing up, this is a talent filled, heavy with some giggles along the way, decent movie. After some time to reflect, a movie worth seeing.
Chuck
(2016)
I feel lucky having chosen to watch this...
7 August 2019
This is a really good film. It's based on the true story that inspired Sylvester Stallone's Rocky movie. It has everything you want, every single actor is perfect in every way. I didn't know who was in it when I started watching and the well known actors revealed along the way sometimes took a minute or two before you knew who they were. Every single frame of this was well done. Highly recommended for folks who like paced movies about extraordinary 'normal' people. Lots of reunioning big and small screen actors came together to make this.
Holmes & Watson
(2018)
Stunned. Didn't anyone see this was better left 'in the can'
7 August 2019
I wanted to like this, I expected even a poor effort to still be something. This would have been funnier if two kids shot it on their iPhones. Unbelievably terrible. Not sure who's logic prevailed in seeing this released but they should be fired. DO NOT WATCH IT. IT ONLY DISAPPOINTS.
The Lion King
(2019)
A perfectly great modern remake with a little extra punch!
20 July 2019
If you want a brand new tale, this isn't for you. If you want to see some state of the art, near flawless, CGI animation of an already legendary film, then yes, this delivers and then some. Currently this may be the most incredible lot resolved CGI out there. Everything is artificial, nothing is overlooked. Literally nothing. Simba brushes by a plant that's near water and the water ripples from the plants roots just the right amount. That attention to detail is so thorough that unless you look for it any disbelief is lost and you're enjoying dramatic or funny talking wildlife at National Geographic levels of realism. I am a CGI fan and this was more awe inspiring than the first Sully fur. The story is the same with some side by side exact scene copies, the actors, all of them, are great. Seth, John Oliver and Billy Eichner are the real treat redelivering old lines with such modernity, you think you're hearing them for the first time. There are new adlibs as well and overall the movie is the very best of exactly what it was supposed to be. Go out, see it on IMAX if you can, enjoy!
Between Worlds
(2018)
I am with everyone, terrible terrible writing, terrible everything...
28 June 2019
This is remarkable in its every aspect. Don't even know where to start. It made us laugh, like in Bug Ass Spider laugh. The director of photography, assuming there was one, maybe a LUT in post, is about the only redeeming quality. I am used to over actor Cage but to see Bourne girl Franke Potente struggle with the unbelievably bad writing was heart wrenching. If you had this script handed to you for a Grade school drama class the class would be in stitches. How's this even possible? It's racy, the first time Cage is with Franke they have a romp on the sofa, complete with jostled coffee and if you're paying attention a broken table lamp, the lamp of course appears unscathed in next cut, whole and I damaged. This might not replace the magic of the first Sharknado, or the low budget camp of Pinky Tuskaderos "New Years Evil" but it's almost bad enough to be fun. I couldn't hang on for more than thirty minutes, I wanted to, I tried my best!
At Eternity's Gate
(2018)
Sorry, a technicality, I know it's probably great, Julian you're above NOT using a tripod.
22 June 2019
Schnabel is king Midas to my creative side. I dig his work in both film and on canvas. I have a Fine Art degree (married to a Bachelor of Management Economics - to stay fed) and was looking forward to his take on this period. Isaacs and Dafoe are brilliant as always although it was an adjustment seeing Dafoe in a submissive role, scattered a little and needy, but around the scene where Isaacs Gauguin and VanGogh discuss Madagascar the trite jittery camera movements were too much. Started to actually feel motion sickness setting in. It's a dumb trite cheap camera movement that I feel the entire industry can do without. Some movies add it in post, sometimes the fake rhythm of the jitters can be made out. Blair Witch used it to excess and people left theatres puking from 'fear' if you recall the headlines of the day. They were experiencing motion sickness. A rare group of folks who can easily survive wild fair rides without issue, but shake the world (screen) without matching it in the real world physically and the toughest gut will launch cookies within minutes. I don't expect that's what JS was going for. Too bad.
Chernobyl
(2019)
Tragedy beautifully wrapped in cinematography
29 May 2019
If you have any inkling of the severity of the disaster the tension you'll feel crescendos from season one forward. The casting is brilliant with key roles played by the best character actors of our day. That lack of headliner marquee actors leading the storyline contributes to the despair and tenacity of the unsung heroes who gave their lives to contain it. Normal people adapting to extraordinary circumstances. The colour grading is brilliant, the Geiger counter sound base cleverly creates a soundstage for the villainous radioactivity, it's like the deep cello metronomic beat of the Jaws theme before an attack. This is more subtle and it agitates the audience, adding stress and angst. Can't say enough about this mini series. Exceptionally well done, this review was written at the end of another heavy episode number four. I am not sure how this will play to those oblivious to the incessant pervasiveness of radioactivity and it's ability to liquify our bodies in short order. On that note, the best and most challenging difficult prosthetic make up I have seen in a long time helps educate us.
After Life
(2019–2022)
Beautifully present and observant!
23 March 2019
The exceptionally creative among us are often plagued by demons. Rough starts, spectrum disorders and self medication naw at them from behind their entertaining jouster facades. Ricky Gervais appears to have made good with his innermost minds workings, managing to harness empathy, his acute observations and distill all that clutter down into a comedic elixir with edge. That goodness for free spirited unadulterated British humour. Gervais takes us along his characters serious and life threatening journey out of despair after his wife has passed. This is brilliant stuff, he holds nothing back and delivers with a maturity that which only comes having mastered his craft. We get some trademark British Gervais slapstick but the real gems are his twist on painful endearing subject matter. His character stumbles with relationships burdened by his optics, but he means well. He desires righteousness and in trying to keep things right he delivers some of the best quips of his career so far. This is a great series that deals with dark subject matter while leaving us with feeling that while life can be hard, perseverance and simply moving forward will have things work out. Life continues, good or bad, we are all in this together. Enjoy what you can while your here. Brilliant work from a genius who has found his stride. It's a ten out of ten to encourage others to view it.
Us
(II) (2019)
Disconnected, discombobulated. Went in excited, came out disappointed.
22 March 2019
Firstly, I don't see 'color'. I question this 'color' talk when I hear it as I grew up watching the Cosby Show along with millions of others making it a top series of the day. I hear Jordan Peele's talk about adding color representation to the big screen and that's to be celebrated, but for me a movie is about the movie. A good rating is easy, a movie just has to entertain, it's plot, it's editing, photography and acting, anyone of those being exceptional is enough to draw me in. I liked the then standing 100 score on rotten tomatoes, that and Peele's talk show circuit was enough to sign me up. I was genuinely excited to see this on the big screen, maybe that anticipation contributed to my disappointment in the form of a lunch bag let down. I wanted it to keep me on the edge of my seat, it didn't. I wanted to discover some hidden complex connected plot line and frankly it wasn't present. What little surprise there was has been done before. I liked the beginning, the slightly obvious homage to the time. Like everyone else there were moments of 'oh yeah, I remember that...','..the hands across America thing', the subtle uses of that age appropriate typefaces, the primitive lower thirds weren't lost on the audience either. The pace starts off slow and drops disconnected clues along the way that tease the ending prematurely. Without spoiling it, the ending isn't all that original. We've seen bits of this storyline before, Body Snatchers, The Strangers Prey at Night, Journey to the far side of the sun, all served up in varying degrees in this Peele's second theatrical release. I read somewhere that he was displaying the divide in the US, that the hands across America is used to show American unity, except they are all in red which confusingly blurs the films villainy against the films humanity, who is who, why is this presented somewhat disconnected from the plot. Are we supposed to embrace that the cause and a solution to the American existential crisis resides within us individually? I don't see it. A duality of causation per individual does not exist in reality, maybe he is trying to encourage a population to empathetically reach across the aisle, to understand another's view to help bring some closure at middle ground. If he is, it's going to be clearly lost on the same demographic that celebrates Trumps tariff revenues as a win when that money isn't coming from the wallet of overseas companies but the wallets of middle America who now pay more for their preferred goods and services. Other countries manufacturers don't suck up the tariff, it gets added on to the landed continental US price and its North Americans that pay that bill, this is basic stuff. A crowd that isn't savvy enough to recognized their diminished purchasing power, isn't likely going to meet anyone halfway, anywhere. If we leave politics and divisiveness aside, is this a good movie? It's well shot, the colorization is decent, the doppelgänger acting is impressive and the concept is decent, albeit déjà vu. I think Jordan had some good concept bones and a lot of ideas, I think he rode the success of his Get Out Oscar to get this movie made and in the can but he rushed it. Nothing feels resolved, everything feels like there could be more back story, more flesh put on those bones, it's a hodge podge of decent ideas all strung together in a rush. To give him the benefit of the doubt, he had all sorts of good ideas that he didn't spend enough time on. To be a harsh critic it just didn't gel, it felt sophomoric under a large production budget. It's not worth some deeper discussion, I don't agree with it being prophetic, personally, (which is all any critiique is, a personal opinion) I came away disappointed and feeling a bit ripped off. Sorry Jordan, maybe next time.
Captive State
(2019)
Buy a tripod?
15 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I wanted this to be great. I like John Goodman in most anything he does and Vera is the same. So where does it go off the rails, apparently right off the dolly rails, right from the beginning. Blair witch wasn't so scary people left the theatres puking, they were suffering from motion sickness. Today's kitschy action camera move is to forget about any rigging and just run with it. In fact it sometimes looked like the editing suite added some jittery rhythmic plug ins of their own. That this cheap trick is already trite and tired is enough that it's starting to fade from popularity. The hold outs use it for only the most dire sequences and typically only in lazy B and even C action movies. It was used with moderation in No Country for Old Men, Sicario liked it, heck even Spielberg has tried it out, but none of them from opening to closing credits. This movie had potential. The creatures are new to me but looked born of anime origins, unfortunately we see their armour skinned versions in first few minutes and have their urchin shells peeled back to reveal the dying bogeyman soon after. Tada!, now what to do for the next one hundred minutes. The plot echoes some of the real world news cycles, the nation divided ripe with alterior motives or greed, if you dug a bit it felt like the story they were trying to tell. That good wins out over evil eventually. Unfortunately the character development is weak and disjointed. There are frial bones of some decent storytelling in the body of the script but it never presents itself well enough for you to attach to the characters. The 'weapons' or powers used to off the humans is interesting but it's been done before too. Check out War of the Worlds, circa Cruise. I expected some Cloverfield camera movements having seen the trailers and planned ahead taking a gravol, I should have taken the nighttime version and simply slept thru this one, would have been better use of my two hours. I like to find at least some positives in a film, films are the culmination of many people's efforts, this is one film that I can't find one except maybe some trademark canned expressions we all enjoy from John and Vera, Ferris Buellers Alan Ruck is a surprise, Ashton Sanders, Transformers Dad Kevin Dunn and a less comical than usual character played by Kevin J O'Connor. Save your money, it's not even a popcorn romp, wait for this one on Netflix.
The First
(2018)
Visual treat...
28 February 2019
Let's start with the superficial, Sean is as fit as one can be, Natasha has been a favourite of mine since I first saw her in Ronin. The buildings and other sets are easy on the eyes as well. Basquiat artwork (unfortunately a digital canvas print that hasn't been textured for realism) is a nice touch, the wall finishes in Penn's New Orleans home are all that is hip and cool right now. Sometimes the extravagance of a set can be distracting but in this series they only add to the foundation of some brilliant lighting and cinematographer work. This is as beautiful as Man on Fire, or Déjà Vu, or even Eric Broms work on Spun. I haven't seen Adam Stones entire portfolio but you can recognize some shooting styles used in his Take Shelter. There is no shortage of fantastic lighting as well, it's a delight for your eyes. The storyline hooks you with the first episode Unfortunately followed by a short weakness as we enter into the legal preambles that build on the story in episode two. That's as far as I've gotten but I am in. There are a four directors on this which may explain the shifts between one and two, however it is a good show with an equally compelling soundtrack. The crescendo dramatic music is a little loud, something that Dunkirk really pushed into the public domain in 2018. I like it and I think it works better in this show that the overwhelming effect it had on Dunkirk at times. So far, so good, I highly recommend it. I hope it stays afloat at this level of execution thru to the last scene.
Mid90s
(2018)
An eight for capturing the period and awesome first time out for Jonah
29 October 2018
I have a bias, I grew up skateboarding. We never matched the cool of dogtownZ but shared in the friendships that intersection of boards and youth delivered. Jonah has eloquently captured the rights of friendship and the shared awkwardness we all felt dipping our toe into new waters during or after school. This is a film where you drop in, ride along for a bit and then drop out, hence the No Country for Old Men references that pop up in other reviews. Where this differs is the storytelling, it's a personal shared story of Jonah Hills own youth. One that isn't terribly unique, just honestly told thru the consistent eye of a boy just finding his way into adulthood. The freedom of boarding, the wee hours of the night spent on the Boulevard, the desire to spend hours learning a new trick, trying out stunts with your friends and all that skate culture provide a fulfilling backdrop to the main characters emotional journey. Like Kevin Smiths films the movie is about being young. Mid90's is about the kids that might hit up mall rats for beer buys, 90's kids are just younger enough to simplify their plot lines to peer friendships versus budding relationships. Don't misunderstand, there is plenty of boy girl relationship included, but it's sideline to the boys finding their way interpersonally. For us skateboard kids the movie hits home, for the Non-skaters it's a great story with great punchy and fitting humor woven throughout and riding on the back of the culture of the mid 90s themselves. Them movie feels real. This is not a movie about shredding empty swimming pools, it's about being a kid for a time. Its about peers helping friends out with a new board or trick, it's about acceptance and honesty. It's filled with feel good and that's welcomed given the socioeconomic and political,climate that greets us outside the theatre doors. This is a good film. It's feels simple, almost independent, but if you pay attention you'll witness Jonah and his director of photography were paying attention as well. We are provided some nice action camera angles, enough POV footage to get what skateboarding is all about, plus there are many shots that look well crafted cinematographically with either the luckiest of found lighting utilized under a masterful technician or the crew spent some time crafting the shots. Like No Country... the film simply ends. It's appropriate when it goes black but nobody in the seats was ready to leave yet. The young actor had just reached a stride, he is accepted, things are starting to happen for him, he is in that place where you no longer worry about not fitting in and are no longer cautious of what you might say wrong, you know the field of play, you're part of the group, your friends have become your young adult family. The movie goer has enjoyed some laughs, some drama, some concern and your just feeling that everything is turning out ok and then...darkness and credits. Every actor delivers something, nothing is wasted, nothing is missing. This is the sort of movie that ten years from now we'll be seeing big leading roles for many of these kids. I saw it in a barely filled afternoon theatre sitting and everyone was laughing out loud. I can only imagine how much more effective a full house would be. A great way to end the summers viewing. Highly recommend the film, Jonah, if this is what you've got from attempt number one, I can't hardly wait to see what you bring us next! This was crafted from love without the pressures of big studio. It's that freedom that lets the story be told the way you wanted it to be told. I will be buying the DVD for the home theatre experience, PS fantastic soundtrack.
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